...to Have Kids?

I am coming up on my 36th birthday and beginning to think of such things. I am divorced, in a stable relationship (but not remarried at this point), and honestly wondering if this is something that I should be worried about at this point.

Anyone have thoughts on this? I would really appreciate any input as I'm a bit torn and worried about something truly wonderful passing me by.

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Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months. ~ Oscar Wilde

I think you're at an ok age to have kids (ur not too old). If you do decide to have kids around this time when u reach your 50's it may get REALLY intense for you b/c you'll be going thru hormone changes (menopause) and your kid would be going thru hormone changes (teenagerism...LOL) Atleast that's how it is with my mom and I (she had me at 37) it basically REALLY sucks! We both disagree on everything and have major mood swings and fights...
Just make sure that when u reach the age of changing hormones you'll remember why you're fighting so much and forgive and forget easily...LOL
i hope this helps your descision because it is a very big one and as for something onderful passing you by...well im just a kid myself so i couldn't tell you, but most seem to enjoy it

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I'm done with jeans! I got everything that was on my wishlist and i don't NEED any more, so ppl selling nice jeans don't let me see them! LOL

Yeah, my mom went through menopause and I went through teenagerism at the same time. Not fun

But to answer your question, no I don't think you are too old.

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women everywhere are shaving their coochies to honor obama. no more bush.

36 isn't old at all to have kids! My aunt had my cousin @ 36 and he was born healthy. Many women have children in their 40's. My friend's cousin got married and had a kid both @ 40. The baby turned out healthy. If you have a bay that old, though, there are more risks b/c your eggs are older.

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Banned from buying anything!

i don't think anyone's too old to have kids. most people don't have them when they're older cause there's a higher chance for complications/birth defects.

I don't think you're too old . I know more and more people (active / healthy) having children in their late 30's / early 40's. There are some benefits to having children older (financially speaking etc).

My mom had my little brother in her early 40's. The pregnancy went fine / no complications. She did have an amniocentesis. He's way younger than us but that's cool (I could be his mom!). The only thing is that he is like an only child and I know that he sometimes wishes he had a sibling closer to him in age.

I believe that they say being over 35 increases the risk of issues. I'd say it would be important to check with your dr on the physical / medical issues. For example, I heard that folic acid is esp. important for women to take who may want to get preggers.

Anyway, good luck with what you decide in the future. It's good to hear that you are in a stable relationship .

I don't think anyone is too old to have children except in one case (and this doesn't apply to the TS) and that's when you are so old that there is a chance that you might not watch your child grow up.

When I was 16 I met a guy who was one year younger than me and his father was 72. He had met a younger woman of course but to be 15 and have a father that's over 70? It can't be fun.

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I haven't bought jeans since March 17th! Saving up for more Louboutins!

I think with good antenatal care you don't have that much to be afraid of. Just make sure you keep your appointments, go for all the tests that you're supposed to etc - this is if you're worried about the effects on your child.
If you're worried that the problem might be with your fertility, then you should get yourself checked out every year...

I really do think that 30's is the new 20's, and personally I wouldn't be bothered if the age gap between me and my children was like 40 - 45 years. Plus I know I'd still be one hot mama

My mom was 34 and my dad was 36 when i was born, mind you i was adopted so my mom did not actually give birth to me. But i have never noticed any issues with the age of my parents. Many of my friends had really young parents but a lot of my friends had older parents as well.

I think as long as you take the precautions and make sure you go in for every appointment and make sure everything is going smoothly you should be fine.

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Congratulations Prime Minster Tim Horton on getting a Double-Double!!!

I think 40 is too old. as a woman ages her chances of conceiving a child with health issues becomes a greater likelihood. If you plan to have a child in the future, I wouldn't put it off too much longer for risk of complications.

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All I want is: NOTHING! OH MY GOSH!!! I have a brown TR hoodie on the way and I could NOT be more excited!!!!! All thanks to Charla!

I don't think 40 is too old, but I think anything over 45 is too old. Your eggs deteriorate, and think about it - you're almost 50 with a toddler. I don't think 36 is too old, I think it's a good age, but if you want to have children, I'd recommend it's something you start soon, for your sake and the baby's.

hey you are not too old at all! my aunt gave birth to her first child at 38 then another one at 40 i think and they are both very lively and healthy kids. i also have a family friend that gave birth when she was 39, 40 and they are one happy family.

however to me i would say start soon if you can

i think 40 is too old. my mom had me when she was 37 and i kinda feel a little cheated out of some years somehow.

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*Jesse*

I used to feel a bit strange because my best friend's mom had her when she was like...20. Her grandmother was around the same age as my dad!!!

But i think i got lucky. I am 23, my dad turned 60 lst year and my mom will be 60 next year, but both of them don't seem a day over 45! While my dad has some physical problems (he is getting a knee replacement in a couple months) he has had knee problems since he was in his 20's. My mom is more physically active then any other 20 year old i know. She walks 6-10 miles probably 3 times a week (soon to be a lot more when the weather gets nice) plus she rides her bike every summer all over the city and takes pilate and yoga classes 3 times a week. I cower in shame next to her physical activeness.

But as others are correct when they say that health risks for both you and the baby are higher when you reach your 40's. The chance of having a child with downs syndrome is increaced greatly once you hit the 40 mark.

But i think at 36 you should be great. It is good that you have your life in order right now and have waited until you were ready to have kids. Psychologically this will probably be excellent for you and your child!

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Congratulations Prime Minster Tim Horton on getting a Double-Double!!!

I think that if you are going to have a kid at 40, you should definitely be aware that your chances of having a child with Down's syndrome are 1 in 12. That doesn't mean you should or shouldn't do it but just know that the chance is definitely significant.

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ur never too old to have kids!
as long as u are healthy and can carry a child without an horrible complications then i say do it!

motherhood was my biggest blessing and i would never, ever tell someone they should've have kids for whatever reason.... unless they were smoking crack or something... but u know what i mean

You are not too old!!! I had a friend who had her first baby in her early forties. She even went on to have another!!!

My hubby and I have been trying for 11 months to get pg. We have both been checked out and there is no medical explanation for our infertility. It just seems to be taking some time. The sooner you start trying the better. Best of luck to you!

i agree with the others and say that 36 is not too old.
when you are around that age you are set financially and know what you want in life. my mom is 43 now and pregnant and is due in about 3 months. haha it'll be her third child, and i also have an older brother, then theres me, so there will be a big age gap between the youngest and me, because i am old enough to be his mother. I think if you live a healthy and active lifestyle then having kids in your thirties will be fine =)

I am 17 and my dad is 67, 68 in May...You aren't too old.

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chocolat

The blood tests they run to screen for down's syndrome is estimated to be wrong up to 20% of the time. The only tests that are conclusive (e.g. amniocentesis or chorionic villi sampling) carries with it some risk of miscarriage. Before you attempt to conceive, have your GP do a health screen on both you and your partner.

Hope this helps. And no, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

i didn't read all the replies.. only the original post.

i was 36 when i had zachary
my mom was 41 when she had me
my niece whose actually a year older than me (yes, it can happen when your mom and your sister are having children at the same time) ... had her one and only child when she was 40

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36 is definitely not too old.

Whereas, a couple years back where some ~67 y.o. grandma gave birth to triplets or something... that's just wrong.

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Clarification: since I've bought jeans for myself

you're definitely not too old.. its all in how you feel... I had my first when I was 33, my second when I was 36 1/2...I had (knock on wood) no problems at all, and honestly noticed no difference in my pregnancy or anything physical the second time around, i know some people say its harder being pregnant when you're older, but honestly I noticed no difference, and i'm 38 almost 39 (eeks) now and I wouldn't totally rule out having another one at this point, I wouldn't wait too long to start trying if you really want to just because sometimes it can take up to even a year to get pregnant... good luck!

I dont visit here often but have been doing lots of research on the subject *for myself* so I thought I would share... since fate brought me to your post!

You aren't too old at all but if you do want to try to conceive, I would start ASAP b/c the chances of conception decrease dramatically once you hit 35. Even if you aren't 100% sure, I would still get to work.. because it may take a while and by then hopefully you will be 100% sure! Some women are lucky and others aren't.
DH and I haven't been at it long enough to know where we stand but we sure are having lots of fun trying.
Good luck to you though!

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-Be Happy

I should add I am only 31 and have been trying for 11 months. I will second the "get busy" type advice!